Color Profiling: Troubleshooting

check the correct lcc is applied if selecting images manually, ensure the correct lcc is applied to the target images prior to creating a profile if in doubt, use capture new to capture a new image of the white or gray reference check for dust check that there is no errant dust or debris in the color swatches color samples are taken from the middle area of each color swatch a filtered air blower bulb is usually enough check the target detection dt nexus should automatically identify the location of the target with high accuracy but in some cases you may need to adjust the detection by dragging the corners or edges note that the colorchecker sg especially has had subtle design changes over the years and some of the earlier iterations (e g those labeled “greytag”) will be consistently mis detected rotate target orientation the best profiles are made by orienting the target such that the long edge of the physical target is parallel to the lights for some targets this means the text on the target is not right reading capture environment or stray light ideal results are made in a dark environment with gray or black ceilings, walls, and operator clothing reflections from brighter ceilings, walls, or operator clothing may contaminate the profiling or validation or both additionally, the light intended for the shooting surface should not stray to other parts of the environment as this can exacerbate reflections using standard studio equipment such as c stands, flags, curtains, lens shades, barn doors, and grid spots can reduce spill alternatively a dt pod offers a controlled, ergonomic, and repeatable digitization environment target reference accuracy every physical target is slightly different if you’re using generic measurements, consider hand measuring your own target or having dt or another capable company measure your target professionally if you’re using factory measurements, check the age of the measurements target age/condition there is no one answer to how long measurements are relevant but here is some guidance time is not the primary factor in the condition of a target a target that is one day old but has been handled incorrectly once (e g dirty finger on a patch) is in poor condition a durable target like the dt ngt2 that has been handled carefully in a controlled environment and cleaned will be in good condition, even after several years prosumer targets such as the colorchecker sg tend to warp overtime this warping means each patch is at a different angle to the light, which severely degrades the quality of profiling and validation consider using a target like the dt ngt2 that is all metal or isa goldenthread fadgi 19264 target that is metal backed; these targets lay very flat targets that are visibly dirty, old, or worn are not acceptable and will negatively affect the resulting image quality if used to generate a profile such targets should be cleaned (if cleanable like the dt ngt2) or discarded (if not cleanable, as with the colorchecker sg) targets that are not visible dirty, old, or worn can still be faded or aged in a way that affects quality having these targets re measured will ensure their reference files are up to date dt and other capable companies offer measurement as a professional service, or you can do this measurement with a tool like the i1 spectrophotometer and software such as spectrashop if dt is used to measure your target, new values are automatically added to dt nexus; otherwise, you’ll need to add your measurements to each computer using dt nexus (see reference measurement files docid 7tshjxkgxwthqef42kidc ) underlying exposure if the delta e of the fusion profile is greater than the delta e of standard capture, the capture exposure may be too bright adjust and run again